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Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details Textuals) (USD $)
Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified |
3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | ||
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Mar. 31, 2015
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Mar. 31, 2014
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Jun. 30, 2014
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Dec. 31, 2014
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| Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Textuals) [Abstract] | ||||
| Net reduction in interest expense on long term debt and other | $ 70,000,000axp_NetReductionToInterestExpenseLongTermDebtAndOtherRelatedToNetSettlementsOnFairValueHedges | $ 69,000,000axp_NetReductionToInterestExpenseLongTermDebtAndOtherRelatedToNetSettlementsOnFairValueHedges | $ 0axp_NetReductionToInterestExpenseLongTermDebtAndOtherRelatedToNetSettlementsOnFairValueHedges | |
| Derivative asset not offset | 0axp_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAssetNotOffsetAgainstCollateral | 0axp_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAssetNotOffsetAgainstCollateral | ||
| Derivative liabilities not offset | 0axp_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityNotOffsetAgainstCollateral | 0axp_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityNotOffsetAgainstCollateral | ||
| Shares held in equity investment sold | 0axp_SharesHeldInEquityInvestmentSold | |||
| Margin On Interest Rate Swap Not Netted | 111,000,000axp_MarginOnInterestRateSwapNotNetted | 114,000,000axp_MarginOnInterestRateSwapNotNetted | ||
| Derivative [Line Items] | ||||
| Equity investment | 1,000,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities | 1,000,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities | ||
| Net hedge ineffectiveness | 0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet | 0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet | ||
| Not Sold Or Repledged [Member] | ||||
| Derivative [Line Items] | ||||
| Securities received as collateral | 43,000,000us-gaap_FairValueOfSecuritiesReceivedAsCollateralThatCanBeResoldOrRepledged / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = axp_NotSoldOrRepledgedMember |
91,000,000us-gaap_FairValueOfSecuritiesReceivedAsCollateralThatCanBeResoldOrRepledged / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = axp_NotSoldOrRepledgedMember |
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| ICBC [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | ||||
| Derivative [Line Items] | ||||
| Equity investment | 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = axp_IcbcMember |
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| Fair Value Hedges [Member] | ||||
| Derivative [Line Items] | ||||
| Notional amount of long-term debt | 17,600,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeAmountOfHedgedItem / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember |
17,600,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeAmountOfHedgedItem / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember |
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| Net Investment Hedges [Member] | ||||
| Derivative [Line Items] | ||||
| Effective portion of gain (loss) on hedges | 195,000,000axp_EffectiveTranslationAdjustmentForHedgeIncreasedDecreasedNetOfTax / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember |
(17,000,000)axp_EffectiveTranslationAdjustmentForHedgeIncreasedDecreasedNetOfTax / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember |
0axp_EffectiveTranslationAdjustmentForHedgeIncreasedDecreasedNetOfTax / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember |
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| Net Investment Hedges [Member] | Net Investment Hedging [Member] | Other Expense [Member] | ||||
| Derivative [Line Items] | ||||
| Amount reclassified from AOCI into income | 0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherExpenseMember |
17,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherExpenseMember |
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| Credit Valuation Adjustment [Member] | ||||
| Derivative [Line Items] | ||||
| Notional amount of long-term debt | $ 0us-gaap_DerivativeAmountOfHedgedItem / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = axp_CreditValuationAdjustmentMember |
$ 0us-gaap_DerivativeAmountOfHedgedItem / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = axp_CreditValuationAdjustmentMember |
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- Definition
Fair value of derivative assets that are permitted under a master netting arrangement, but elected not to be presented as an offset against an obligation to return collateral received against such assets. No definition available.
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- Definition
Fair value of derivative liabilities that are permitted under a master netting arrangement, but elected not to be presented as an offset against the right to receive collateral paid against such liabilities. No definition available.
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- Definition
Effective portion of cumulative gains and losses on foreign currency derivatives that are designated as, and are effective as, hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity commencing as of the designation date. Adjustment reported in equity as part of accumulated other comprehensive income. No definition available.
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- Definition
Amount posted as initial margin for centrally cleared interest rate swaps which is not netted against the derivative balances. No definition available.
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- Definition
Represents the amount of a net reduction to interest expense on long-term debt and other, primarily related to the net settlements on the Company's fair value hedges. No definition available.
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Shares held in ICBC investment sold. No definition available.
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- Definition
Amount of equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor as trading. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Amount of the hedged item as of the balance sheet date related to the derivative. For example, the hedged balance on a debt instrument. No definition available.
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- Definition
The effective portion of net gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
The portion of gains and losses (net) on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments representing (a) the amount of the hedge ineffectiveness and (b) the amount, if any, excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Fair value of collateral permitted, by contact or custom, to be sold or re-pledged. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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